<span style="color: #222222;">India has protested the announcement of elections to so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan" Legislative Assembly by Pakistan.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">External Affairs Ministry today reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of so-called Gilgit and Baltistan are an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It said Pakistan government has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">New Delhi has also completely rejected recent actions such as the so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan (Elections and Caretaker Government) Amendment Order 2020" and continued attempts by the Pakistan establishment to bring material changes in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It said action such as these can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pak occupied territories for the past seven decades.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">India has called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.</span><br />